IMAGE: TATYANA FAZLAIZADEH/FACEBOOK The series, called Stop Telling Women To Smile started in the fall of 2012 and is ongoing by the artist. Kwanzaa Day 6 Principle #6  Kuumba (Creativity) speaks to our shared obligation to do all we can constantly heal and repair the...

PHOTO: by Mashable Teammates Eli Harold, left, and Eric Reid, right, joined Kaepernick, center, in kneeling before a 49ers game. Day 5 Kwanzaa Principle #5 Nia (Purpose): To make our collective vocation the building and developing of our community in order to restore...

Photo: REUTERS Kwanzaa Day 4 Principle #4 Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics) commits us to the principle and practice of shared work and wealth. It stresses our kinship with others and the environment and appreciation for the need for a just and equitable distribution of...

We are in this together... Kwanzaa Day 3 Principle #3  Ujima (collective work and responsibility) calls on us, to build and maintain our community together and to make our brothers’ and sisters’ problems our problems and to solve them together. This principle teaches...

Day 2 of Kwanzaa Kujichagulia (Self-Determination): To define ourselves, name ourselves, create for ourselves, and speak for ourselves. This reaffirms the right of persons and peoples to determine their own destiny and daily lives; to live in peace and security, and...

  December 26th is the first day of Kwanzaa. I love Kwanzaa, not necessarily for the traditions, but they are beautiful. I love that  Kwanzaa brings a cultural message which speaks to the best of what it means to be Black but most importantly what it means to...

                I grew up experiencing many, many situations where I was the only woman. Where I was the only person of color. Where I was the only one that came from a working class background. The only one. Do you have any...

                        People want to be validated. All of us. We want to be seen and heard. We want to be thought about and thanked. We want to be understood. Validation makes us feel accepted and...

        Truth. Honesty. Candor I have been described as wholly, honestly, and unapologetically me. I have been told I am straight talking, generous, and compassionate. I have also been called a hard, evil, mean bitch. Yep, I am all of those things...